JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/16/25

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Junior Caminero Jr.

2:45

Why do you think writers and talking heads tend to generalize Tampa as a great pitching, light hitting team year in and year out as if it's still 2010 or so? Is it laziness about not wanting to research a small market team's ebbs and flows in strategy, or do you think it's a more valid critique than I would like to think?

Ben Clemens

2:45

partially, haha

2:46

I'm one of those writers, writing is easier if you have a few narratives to follow

2:48

but yeah, I think it's also that the Rays continue to TRY to do their pitching thing all the time

Cardinals Enjoyer

2:48

As a Cardinals fan who just watched an amazing April/May, ignoring troubling underlying statistics, and seeing this early snapback to reality for the team, what do you think their aims should be in the deadline? Personally I think they should set of Chaim Bloom with a top-10 farm system at all costs, do you see the Cardinals being able to be sellers to any impactful extent?

Ben Clemens

2:49

I have been kinda pessimistic on the 2025 team but the reasons I was pessimistic haven't tracked with what's gone down

2:50

basically the pitching has been meaningfully better than I expected, Libby in particular

but this rotation is not really tehre yet, imo. and MAN, Jordan Walker not hitting is a bummer

2:51

I think they should be trying to get younger particularly in pitching. and truthfully, I think that's gonna happen, but I doubt they'll go full accelerationist and trade Helsley and Gray, even though I'd probably bite the bullet and do it

Justin

2:51

Ben, loved your write-up on devers. In your article you said that a team 26 two win players wouldn't make the playoffs. I understand the point you were trying to make, but wouldn't that roster actually make the playoffs? 52 wins above replacement on one team seems pretty good. Thanks!

Ben Clemens

2:52

I probably should have said '26 true-talent 2 WAR players'

like yes, your 8 2 WAR reliever bullpen would be ludicrous

what about your bench being basically four hall of famers, to be able to put up 2 WAR apiece in so few PA's

Phil

2:52

By the way, there is no Yawkey Way anymore, on account of Tom Yawkey being a racist: it reverted to Jersey Street (and the extension of it on the other side of Brookline Ave is now David Ortiz Way).

Ben Clemens

2:52

oh my goodness

well that's good

2:53

protests on David Ortiz Way

hey, it's even a DH street

2:53

Also on Devers, ultimately this is where Boston could get the most cents for their dollars, right? Yoshida-Anthony-Abreu-Duran-Rafaela, there was so much smoke about how the stumbling block with Duran was that they just were not going to get enough value back. And SF basically said, we'll pay you to jump on your grenade because we need it so bad. From a value retention standpoint, this was probably the most efficient maneuver. I think what people aren't really coming to grips with is the fact that the Red Sox feel that they have to win AND be value/cash efficient to some degree. And the last five years are a departure from the last twenty in that respect.

Ben Clemens

2:53

ah yes

like I said

hoist the value retention banner

value is an axis of trades

I write a crap ton about value

who writes about value more tha nme?

if you think that's the only axis by which to evaluate baseball, you do not understand baseball, in my opinion

HappyFunBall

2:54

We realize, of course, that Tibbs could end up being Alex Verdugo v2 yes?

Ben Clemens

2:54

yes, he's very much of that archetype

Sir Nerdlington

2:55

Are we at the point where the baseball's drag coefficient needs to be collectively bargained?

Ben Clemens

2:55

lol

2:56

every time I read one of Eno's articles on this I'm like 'wow how is this possible?'

it really is crazy

I don't even think MLB is doing this on prupose, like WHY

Bencle Mens

2:56

The Devers news is outshining the fact that Ohtani is pitching today. That's a good indicator that it wasn't an ideal trade

Ben Clemens

2:56

lol, now that is true

I'm really excited for the Ohtani start

2:56

Boston 3B hole would be filled by Mayer, right? Just means you keep the Story albatross

Ben Clemens

2:57

I mean, that's maybe worse?

jerk around your prospects to accomodate a 4 WAR stud, fine

jerk around your prospects b/c this guy you signed four years ago who had some surgeries and never was the same is still drawing salary? that's bad

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